Nicholas Arnold (32) took the money on three occasions after he had been given access to his friend’s bank account for legitimate purposes.

Judge John Lindsay adjourned sentencing to a date in July to allow Arnold bring confirmation to court that he has compensated the injured party.

The defendant, of Westminister Road in Foxrock, admitted before Dun Laoghaire District Court to three counts of theft.

The charges, under the theft and fraud offences act, took place at Bank of Ireland, Kill-O-The-Grange on May 9, 2013; at Bank of Ireland, Cornelscourt on May 14, 2013; and at AIB Cornelscourt on May 15, 2013.

Garda Sergeant Peadar McCann said Arnold used the victim’s ATM card to take €700 from his account on May 14 and again on May 15 and a further €600 on May 15.

In total, Arnold stole €2,000 in cash from his friend’s bank account.

Sgt McCann said the victim went to gardai with his suspicions, and he nominated Arnold as the culprit.

Sgt McCann said Arnold was in the victim’s house around the time of the thefts, and he had been given access to his account.

The sergeant said Arnold co-operated fully with gardai, and he told them he was “100 million per cent sorry” for what he had done.

Defence solicitor Ronnie Lynam said Arnold and the victim were friends, and the defendant feels a great deal of shame for what he did.

Mr Lynam said Arnold had the injured party’s bank card for legitimate purposes but he over-stepped the mark and went to the hole in the wall and took the cash on three occasions.

The solicitor said Arnold betrayed the trust of a friend, and that realisation has stayed with him.